KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Walter Camp Football Foundation announced Wednesday that Tennessee senior standouts DeSean Bishop and Arion Carter were selected as two of 20 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the fourth-oldest individual college football honor in the nation.
Tennessee and Notre Dame are the only programs in the country with both an offensive and defensive player represented among the semifinalists, while the Volunteers, Fighting Irish, Miami and Texas are the only schools with multiple selections overall.
Bishop was one of three running backs named a semifinalist, while Carter was one of five defensive players recognized. They became the fourth and fifth Walter Camp Player of the Year Award semifinalists in Tennessee history, joining Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt in 2022 and James Pearce Jr. in 2024.
Bishop has put together one of the nation’s most productive seasons in the backfield, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the second consecutive year. Entering Week 11, he ranks second in the SEC and 10th nationally with 1,066 rushing yards while sitting second in the league and tied for seventh nationally with 13 rushing touchdowns. He is one of just four FBS players this season with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
The senior has recorded six 100-yard rushing performances this season, including five consecutive games entering Saturday’s road matchup at Texas A&M. His production has been particularly impressive in the second half, where he has accumulated 661 rushing yards, the most in the FBS. He also ranks sixth nationally with 752 rushing yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.
Bishop has been at his best in the game’s biggest moments, leading the nation with 369 fourth-quarter rushing yards and six touchdowns in the final period. Against currently ranked opponents, he also leads the country in carries (100), rushing yards (422) and rushing touchdowns (five). Most recently, he rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in Tennessee’s 34-6 victory over No. 6 Kentucky, securing his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.
Carter has anchored a Tennessee defense that has continued to produce at a high level throughout the 2026 campaign. The senior linebacker leads the Volunteers with 59 tackles entering Week 11 and has earned recognition as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, in addition to being named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.
Carter delivered one of the finest performances of his career in Tennessee’s win over Kentucky, leading all players with 13 tackles while establishing career highs with 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also added a quarterback hurry in the dominant defensive effort. According to available records, Carter became the first FBS player in more than 11 years to record at least 13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks against an AP top-10 opponent.
Carter’s Walter Camp recognition adds to a decorated senior campaign in which he has also become Tennessee’s first Butkus Award semifinalist since A.J. Johnson in 2014.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award will be determined by a vote of the 138 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. Five finalists will be announced later this month, with the 60th recipient of the award and the 137th Walter Camp All-America team to be revealed during the ESPN College Football Awards Show on Friday, Dec. 11.
2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas
DeSean Bishop, RB, Tennessee
C.J. Carr, QB, Notre Dame
Arion Carter, LB, Tennessee
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Devon Dampier, QB, Utah
Gio Lopez, QB, Wake Forest
Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Leonard Moore, DB, Notre Dame
Sammy Omosigho, LB, UCLA
Tobi Ostsanmi, Edge, Indiana
Jamal Roberts, RB, Missouri
Keelon Russell, QB, Alabama
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Nate Sheppard, RB, Duke
Colin Simmons, DE, Texas
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
Tennessee Football – 2026 Honor Roll
Sr. RB DeSean Bishop
Heisman Trophy Candidate
Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
2026 Midseason First Team All-American (The Athletic, CBS Sports, On3, Sporting News)
Sr. LB Arion Carter
Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
Butkus Award Semifinalist
William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist
NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Semifinalist
Jr. DL Xavier Gilliam
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
2026 Midseason First-Team All-American (AP, The Athletic, CBS Sports, On3, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated)
